Valentino Rossi and Stobart Motorsport will join forces next month f꧒or the Wales Rally GB in a bid to raise funds for Children in Need.

The Italian, who won the M🔯otoGP title for the sixth time this year, will drive a Ford Focus RS with full Stobart livery and it will also incorporate the Children in Need logo and mascot Pudsey Bear.

A statement to the press added:

"In an effort to increase charitable donations for the Children in Need appeal the Stobart team are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to one lucky person by putting♓ up for auction a priceless iteꦜm within the realms of world motorsport.

"In keeping with all Eddie Stobart trucks, and thౠe team's othꦺer rally cars, the MotoGP star will sport a girl's name on the front of his car; and the choice of name will go the highest bidder in a charity auction.

"After the event, the name will th▨en be transferred to one of the 1850 Eddie Stobart trucks where it will be cemented in the history books of the trucking Superbrandꦬ.

"The winner will𒐪 also receive Stobꦍart VIP hospitality for the event."

"We are very excited to have Valentino driving a Stobart car on Wales Rally GB and its only right that th𒆙e company does its bit to help raise money for the Children in Need charity which he is driving for," said Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler.

"I am a great fan of Val🔥entino's and it will be a massive compliment to have our brand on his car and it will really bring a lot of excitement to the whole team next month in Wales."

Rossi's outing in Wales meanwhile will be his third in the World Rally Championship, and while his first with a Michelin-backed Peugeot 206 WRC on the 2002 Rally GB didn't go well - he crashed out just 17 kilometres in - a run in New Zeaܫland four years later was much more successful.

Indeed the seven-time world champion 𒆙steered a Subaru Impreza WRC from 24th, to 13th and then 11th over the three days, setting a best🙈 stage time of seventh in the process.

"If two wheels are the big love of my life, 4 wheels, and especially rally cars, are surely my big passion!" said Rossi. "Having the chance to race at the Wales Rally GB and having♑, at the same time, the possibility to raise funds for Children in Need is something really special and I 𝔍am very proud and happy. I cannot wait to be in the car and to have a lot of fun!"

The 29-year-old will be co-driven by Carlo Cassina, who has contested 24 WRC events in his career. Cassina's resume includes one victory on Rally Portugal in 1988 beside the last and only Italian to win the World🀅 Rally Championship for drivers, Miki 💫Biasion.